Page 45 of Deeply Examined

“It can be, but I love the kids. They have so much potential. They just need help seeing it.”

Some of the sharpness leaves her features, making her appear softer, younger. “Shit. You seem like a nice person, Jessica.” She turns to gaze at the space where West was a few minutes earlier. “I know it’s none of my business, but be careful. There’s something off about West. He’s always so fucking controlled. All these years and he’s never been upset, angry, or excited. Never lost his cool, and there’s something eerie about that.” Her expression is somber when she turns back to me. “It’s not normal. I think—”

“What do you think?” West interrupts, reappearing like he’s psychic and knew we were talking about him.

A twinge of surprise mixed with fear causes Tracy to startle. “Jesus! You scared me,” she cries out with her hand hovering over her chest.

West gives her a slit-eyed glare. “What were you saying?”

“Nothing! I—” Tracy’s next words are lost in the hiss of a microphone.

Together, we turn to the source of the sound. A white-haired man stands onstage. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he announces. “Please take your seats. We’re about to begin the dinner and auction portion of the evening.”

There’s a shuffling sound as everyone gathers their cocktail glasses and goes to sit down. Right before we leave the bar area, Tracy’s eyes flick to West, who stands close to my shoulder. “See you at work on Monday, West.” She holds out her hand to me. “It was nice to meet you, Jessica.”

“You, too.” I shake her hand, which is cool and dry. My mind is still buzzing from our conversation.

Certain women.

Be careful.

Not normal.

What does it all mean?

West takes me by the elbow and guides me to our seat at a table close to the stage. He quickly introduces me to the other guests who sit there, a couple of pathologists with their wives and a radiologist with her husband. Their names and titles all merge together.

A stunningly handsome man saunters up. He comes to stand next to West. The contrast between them is so stark that it’s startling. West is all brooding darkness, but this new guy—he’s pure sunshine. Bright blond hair and big blue eyes. A wide grin on his face.

“Hey there,” he booms, shooting his hand out toward me. “I’m Parker. You must be Jessica. West told me all about you.”

I’m pretty sure my mouth drops open in shock as he shakes my hand, pumping it enthusiastically.

West has been talking about me?

Parker gracefully ignores my sudden inability to speak. “I’ll be sitting with you while West is up on stage. I’ve been given strict instructions not to touch you.”

“Don’t fucking touch her,” West growls quietly so that only Parker and I hear.

My eyes snap to Parker, expecting him to be angry or fearful, but Parker just laughs and socks West playfully in the shoulder. “Down, boy,” he teases West cheerfully. “Don’t worry. Your date is safe with me.”

I watch to see how West will react to me being called his date, but there’s no flicker of emotion in his frosty gray eyes.

Still grinning, Parker shakes his head at West. “Can’t believe Tracy finally talked you into this.”

West shoves his hands into his pockets. “Yeah, well, I can barely believe it myself.”

Parker laughs again, loud and unrestrained. “It’s your funeral, buddy. Just glad it’s not me up there.” He gives West a friendly smack on the back, the kind that athletes give each other after a particularly good play. I stare, fascinated by this display of intimacy between them. Tracy just told me West has no friends, but given the warm way Parker looks at him I think she might be wrong.

Not sure the feeling is mutual, though. West rolls his eyes at Parker, more annoyed than entertained.

We chat for a few more minutes, long enough for me to learn that Parker is a surgeon who works in the same hospital as West.

“Did you two meet there?” I ask, curious to know more. “In the hospital?”

“I’d just started working here,” Parker tells me. “Had no idea how to get around. The OR was paging me saying they’ve got a patient on the table. I’m rushing around, trying to find the elevator, when I run into this guy.” He hooks his thumb toward West.

West takes over, glowering from the memory. “Literallyran into me. This asshole comes flying around the corner and knocks into me so hard we both fall down.”

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